SECURITY services in Egypt sparked a security alert after seizing two suspect packages bound for Britain containing what was originally thought to be as many as 10kg of explosives.

Guards at Cairo airport apparently discovered the suspected bombs during security checks on two packages which were due to be stowed away on board a flight to America via London.

But after a probe they discovered the packages contained no explosives, an Egyptian Interior Ministry source said.

It was thought that the parcels, which weighed about 10kg, were flagged up after unusual objects were detected by an X-ray scanner.

Egyptian news agency Aswat Masriya reported that the parcels, which contained printer ink cartridges, "appeared to be contaminated" and were set to be loaded on a DHL cargo flight.

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The substances were found in printer cartridges (file picture)

The revelations will heighten fears that Islamic State (ISIS) may be trying to exploit supposed security loopholes at Egyptian airports to carry out terror attacks on the West.

Last month ISIS militants downed Metrojet flight 9268 after smuggling a bomb on board in a drinks can at Sharm el-Skeikh airport.

Allegations of shocking lapses in security at both Sharm and Cairo airports emerged in the aftermath of the atrocity, leading Egyptian authorities to install new security scanners and beef up checks on baggage.

It appears that the new measures have already paid dividends, preventing explosives from being shipped to either Britain or America where they could have fallen into the hands of terrorists.

But concerns about security arrangements still remain, to the extent that the US government asked Egypt to stop loading parcels, cargo or mail on passenger aircraft starting from this week.